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Many peasants had to work free on church land, sometimes up to two days in the week. This meant that they could not work on their own land, which made it difficult to grow enough food for their families.

WE ARE HUMBLE PEASANTS WE WORK FOR THE LORDS OF THIS LAND

There had been a long war with France. Wars cost money and that money usually came from the peasants through the taxes that they paid. In 1380, Richard II introduced a new tax called the Poll Tax. This made everyone who was on the tax register pay 5p.

SINCE WE ARE IN WAR WITH FRANCE I ADVISE YOU SIRE TO TAX EVERYBODY IN THE LAND OVER 14

YES WHATEVER. CALL IT THE POLL TAX.

After the Black Death, many lords were short of workers. Because of their numbers decreasing lords had given the peasants on their estates their freedom and paid them. Now, nearly 35 years after the Black Death, many peasants feared that the lords would take back these privileges and they were prepared to fight for them.